If there's no correlation between lower temperatures and the common cold...

[bassrique]

How come I get a cold [with sore throat this time] when the temperatures fall every Autumn?

[HEIST]

I swear the two goes hand in hand. I ALWAYS get a cold after I spend a day out without my jacket on a super chilly day or sleep without my blankets on.

[Relic]

Could it be that it's not so much the cold that does it, but rather the fact that we're trapped indoors more with less ventilation (and therefore exposed to more germs)?

Just a shot in the dark...

[bassrique]

Originally Posted by Relic

Could it be that it's not so much the cold that does it, but rather the fact that we're trapped indoors more with less ventilation (and therefore exposed to more germs)?

Just a shot in the dark...

Could be, but I think the body's core temperature may also be a factor.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by Relic

Could it be that it's not so much the cold that does it, but rather the fact that we're trapped indoors more with less ventilation (and therefore exposed to more germs)?

Just a shot in the dark...

Bingo.

Exposure increases during cold and inclement weather due to people being indoors more.

If you have kids, they also return to the germ breedery that is school.

[bassrique]

Hmmmm.....

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18977127

Cold temperature and low humidity are associated with increased occurrence of respiratory tract infections.

Mäkinen TM, Juvonen R, Jokelainen J, Harju TH, Peitso A, Bloigu A, Silvennoinen-Kassinen S, Leinonen M, Hassi J.

Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland. tiina.makinen@oulu.fi
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The association between cold exposure and acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) has remained unclear. The study examined whether the development of RTIs is potentiated by cold exposure and lowered humidity in a northern population.

METHODS: A population study where diagnosed RTI episodes, outdoor temperature and humidity among conscripts (n=892) were analysed.

RESULTS: Altogether 643 RTI episodes were diagnosed during the follow-up period. Five hundred and ninety-five episodes were upper (URTI) and 87 lower (LRTI) RTIs. The mean average daily temperature preceding any RTIs was -3.7+/-10.6; for URTI and LRTI they were -4.1+/-10.6 degrees C and -1.1+/-10.0 degrees C, respectively. Temperature was associated with common cold (p=0.017), pharyngitis (p=0.011) and LRTI (p=0.048). Absolute humidity was associated with URTI (p<0.001). A 1 degrees C decrease in temperature increased the estimated risk for URTI by 4.3% (p<0.0001), for common cold by 2.1% (p=0.004), for pharyngitis by 2.8% (p=0.019) and for LRTI by 2.1% (p=0.039). A decrease of 1g/m(-3) in absolute humidity increased the estimated risk for URTI by 10.0% (p<0.001) and for pharyngitis by 10.8% (p=0.023). The average outdoor temperature decreased during the preceding three days of the onset of any RTIs, URTI, LRTI or common cold. The temperature for the preceding 14 days also showed a linear decrease for any RTI, URTI or common cold. Absolute humidity decreased linearly during the preceding three days before the onset of common cold, and during the preceding 14 days for all RTIs, common cold and LRTI.

CONCLUSIONS: Cold temperature and low humidity were associated with increased occurrence of RTIs, and a decrease in temperature and humidity preceded the onset of the infections.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by aborgman

Bingo.

Exposure increases during cold and inclement weather due to people being indoors more.

If you have kids, they also return to the germ breedery that is school.

Yes.

Plus seasonal alergies.

[Bassguy61]

Also, the weather contributes as well, though not like a lot of folks think. Going in and out of the cold doesn't cause colds per se. Found this little tidbit on the web that might account for it:

Seasonal changes in relative humidity also may affect the prevalence of colds. The most common cold-causing viruses survive better when humidity is low—the colder months of the year. Cold weather also may make the nasal passages' lining drier and more vulnerable to viral infection.

Arrrgghh... somebody beat me to it!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by aborgman

Bingo.

Exposure increases during cold and inclement weather due to people being indoors more.

If you have kids, they also return to the germ breedery that is school.

Correct.

[bassrique]

Originally Posted by Bassguy61

Also, the weather contributes as well, though not like a lot of folks think. Going in and out of the cold doesn't cause colds per se. Found this little tidbit on the web that might account for it:

Seasonal changes in relative humidity also may affect the prevalence of colds. The most common cold-causing viruses survive better when humidity is low—the colder months of the year. Cold weather also may make the nasal passages' lining drier and more vulnerable to viral infection.

Arrrgghh... somebody beat me to it!

Actually, your quote is more succinct. It's interesting to think that germs live better in lower humidity; it seems like it should be the other way around.

[bassrique]

From wiki:

Low humidity increases viral transmission rates. One theory is that dry air causes evaporation of water, thus allowing small viral droplets to disperse farther and stay in the air longer.

Available clinical evidence also suggests that exposure to cold temperatures may compromise the immune system[15] (though this effect is controversial). Exposure to cold temperatures should thus be avoided during periods of low temperature, especially by vulnerable populations.[15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold

EDIT:

Cold weather

The traditional folk theory is that a cold can be "caught" by prolonged exposure to cold weather such as rain or winter conditions, which is where the disease got its name.[62] Common colds are seasonal, with more occurring during winter. The experimental evidence for this effect is uneven: many experiments have failed to produce evidence that short-term exposure to cold weather or direct chilling increases susceptibility to infection, implying that the seasonal variation is instead due to a change in behaviors such as increased time spent indoors at close proximity to others.[9][22] However, other experiments do find such an effect for both body chilling and cold air exposure, and a number of mechanisms by which lower temperatures could compromise the immune system have been suggested,[15] while other experiments have shown that exposure to cold temperatures may instead stimulate the immune system.[63][64]

[Munjibunga]

Regardless of temperature, you won't get a cold unless you are exposed to the virus.

[CrashClint]

Simple solution to colds, Eat More Boogers!

[MatticusMania]

Im lucky, in that the common cold is about as sick as I happen to get, for the most part. Though when I do get a bad I whine like a baby. What is it about a cold that can reduce a man to tears? Thats a much better topic worth looking into.

[Phalex]

It's all the time spent indoors with a bunch of filthy humans. What's that old saying? He who lies down with rhesus monkeys gonna come down with the HIV..... Something like that anyway.

[Gopherbassist]

Originally Posted by Relic

Could it be that it's not so much the cold that does it, but rather the fact that we're trapped indoors more with less ventilation (and therefore exposed to more germs)?

Just a shot in the dark...

That's exactly right. Also, add in close proximity to others for longer duration than normal.

[mrpackerguy]

I think it may also have something to do with lowered immunity this time of the year with the cold temps and the body working a little harder to keep the core temp where it needs to be.

[Rune Bivrin]

Correlation does not imply causation.

[6jase5]

Nope, it's Charlie Brown's Great November Mystery Missle that brings the colds to all the little girls and boys to signify the beginning of the winter. Watch for it next year.

[scorpionldr]

Originally Posted by Relic

Could it be that it's not so much the cold that does it, but rather the fact that we're trapped indoors more with less ventilation (and therefore exposed to more germs)?

Just a shot in the dark...

that combined with the nasal congestion that comes along with it.

I for one, never get sick, really, but I do know its winter time coming when its playing hell on my ears with all the stuffiness.